June 22, 2012

DAY 1

Beijing - Day 1

We had a VERY BUSY day of site seeing around the city today. I think
our guide planned it this way in order to keep all of us awake!!! Of
course, for some reason Roger, Molly Kate, and I were ALL awake by 3:30
this morning, so in addition to it being a very
busy day, it has also been a VERY LONG day!!!!

We started the day with a ride on a rickshaw to a courtyard that
originated in the 1600's. From there we visited the silk factory,
where we had a lesson on how silk is made. We had a tasty
lunch---CHINESE food, of course. We then proceeded on to Tiananmen
Square and the Forbidden City where we did A LOT of walking!!!! After
our return to the hotel, and a short rest, we hit the streets again with
one of the other couples in our group, and walked down to a place
called Snack Street, which is actually a street
where food vendors are lined up with booths selling ALL KINDS of
unusual foods. I'm glad we didn't eat BEFORE we went, because with some
of the smells, I think I might have lost it!!! We did walk awhile
longer, ate supper----you guessed right----Chinese
food---- and then headed back to the hotel.

Reflections of today?????

1. I am SO glad Molly Kate and Callie Beth are going to have the opportunity to grow up in the CLEAN town of Benton!!!!

2. This courtyard is valued at over $4 MILLION DOLLARS???? I
appreciate history, but I'm not sure I appreciate it THAT much!!!!

3. If General Mao hadn't enforced the one child policy in China over 30
years ago, we probably wouldn't be blessed to have Molly Kate and
Callie Beth as our daughters.

4. That emperor who lived in the Forbidden City---the one who was not
only married to the empress, but also had MANY concubines and possibly
over 300 children-----I would have thought that anyone with THAT many
children would have at least made the courtyard
and palace a little more stroller friendly!!!!